Ohio Court Reprimands Jackson Township Attorney Wernow
The Ohio Supreme Court formally reprimanded attorney Howard L. Wernow over his handling of a Texas client's patent litigation.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Law
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The Ohio Supreme Court has reprimanded Howard L. Wernow, a Jackson Township attorney, for failing to adequately communicate with a client during patent litigation. The order, signed by Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy, is dated November 5, 2026.
Why it matters
The reprimand becomes part of Wernow's disciplinary record and could support harsher penalties if he faces future misconduct findings. It also requires him to reimburse the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection for any payments made because of claims against him.
The Ohio Supreme Court reprimand is final and entered on the attorney's record, with Wernow having acknowledged his misconduct and cooperated with the investigation. The total reimbursement owed to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection has not been stated in the source.
The players
Howard L. Wernow
A Jackson Township, Ohio attorney with more than 12 years of practice who was reprimanded for inadequate client communication in a patent matter.
Sharon L. Kennedy
The Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court who signed the November 5, 2026 disciplinary order against Wernow.
The details
Wernow handled patent litigation for a Texas-based limited liability company primarily through a consulting company rather than communicating directly with the client. He failed to adequately explain key litigation, financial, and relationship issues, and did not contest the complaint against him.
Timeline
March 2025: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office publicly reprimanded Wernow.
November 5, 2026: The Ohio Supreme Court order reprimanding Wernow was signed by Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy.
Legal Context
Ohio disciplinary actions under the state's professional conduct rules are applied case by case, and reprimands like this one are recorded on an attorney's permanent disciplinary history. This order follows a federal reprimand issued earlier in 2025 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, showing how state and federal bodies can act on the same misconduct.
Clients who hire Ohio attorneys can review disciplinary records to understand an attorney's history before retaining counsel. Those with patent or litigation matters may want to confirm how their lawyer communicates directly with them.
The takeaway
Clear, direct communication with clients is a core professional duty, and disciplinary records make lapses in that duty visible to future clients. Reviewing an attorney's record before hiring can help protect your interests.
Further reading
Explore more Ohio legal news for context on how state courts handle attorney discipline.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Review.
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